A superb strike from Gateshead centre-back James Curtis put paid to Chester FC's hopes of an FA Cup run this season.

There was little to separate the two sides in what was a poor game in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, but the Blues were once again largely toothless in attack, and unable to make the most of the few chances they created.

The hosts faced a tough task as Paul Linwood and Lee Pugh were suspended and Danny Harrison facing a long absence through injury, meaning manager Neil Young could only name five substitutes out of a possible seven. Matters weren't helped as striker Ben Mills had left the club through mutual termination of his contract.

It enforced another formation change from Chester this season, who went with what was theoretically an attacking 4-3-3 line-up.

But straight from the kick-off, it was the visitors who had the chance to grab an early lead when James Marwood was put through on goal, but his shot from the edge of the box went well wide.

In a first half utterly devoid of excitement, the Blues' only effort of note came when a tame Jamie Reed header on 15 minutes hovered toward the Gateshead goal, but was going wide when keeper Adam Bartlett collected the ball.

The consolation for the home side was that while Gateshead had the better of the midfield play, they too were incapable of creating an opening after the first-minute chance.

Eyebrows were raised as Jason Jarrett, who had been largely absent from the squad this season, took the place of Alex Titchiner for Chester at half time.

Both sides upped the tempo following the interval and Chester's Gareth Seddon had the chance to produce something for the shot-shy Blues on 47 minutes, but he mis-kicked his effort inside the Gateshead box and Bartlett calmly collected the ball.

A far better chance went begging on 64 minutes when a superb Nathan Turner long ball found Danny Higginbotham, whose headed cross whisked past two Chester players who really should have made more of the opportunity to head the ball into the net from point-blank range.

Seddon was put through on goal at 71 minutes, but from a tight angle, his shot zipped past Bartlett but also the wrong side of the post.

Chester were punished for their failure to take anything from the half-chances they had created when, unable to clear the ball from their box, Gateshead centre-half Curtis thundered in a powerful eight-yard volley which just cleared John Danby's fingertips and ended in the goal.

With time running out, impressive new on-loan signing Ross Killock was unlucky not to grab an equaliser from three yards when, from a Higginbotham cross, his superb header was brilliantly saved by Bartlett.

Chester tried novel tactics in the final minutes, with Higginbotham placed as a striker and John Danby running the length of the pitch to join the rest of the Blues when they won an injury-time corner, but they were unable to make the breakthrough and as the final whistle blew, Chester were out of the cup and with only one goal scored in the last five matches.

Chester FC :

Danby, N Turner, Killock, Higginbotham, L Turner, Kay, Lindfield (Horan 87), Kay (A Williams 56), Titchiner (Jarrett 45), Reed, Seddon.

Subs: Heath, Fearon.

Booked: Kay, A Williams.

Gateshead:

Bartlett, Chandler, Curtis, Clark, Larkin, Turnbull, Hatch, Baxter, Marwood, Ramshaw (Magnay 74), Sirrell.

Subs: Brodie, Cummins, Boyes, Baird, Brown, Tait.

Goal: Curtis 74.

Referee: Wayne Barrett (Worcestershire)

Attendance: 1,659.